Idaho Education Association members recently completed their slate of endorsements for the 2024 general election on Nov. 5.
With no statewide electoral offices on the ballot, IEA’s endorsements focus on competitive races for seats in the Idaho Legislature, the statewide vote on Proposition 1 and school district bond and levy measures across the state.
“IEA members, Idaho’s most important public education experts, are committed to creating a political environment in Idaho where public education thrives,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “Our union’s endorsements represent the best possible outcomes for Idaho’s students, our state’s educators and public schools in the Nov. 5 election.”
VISIT IEA’s 2024 GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSEMENT WEBPAGE
Proposition 1 – Vote Yes
IEA’s Board of Directors endorses Proposition 1 in support of creating open primary elections in Idaho.
“Making primary elections more democratic will ensure the creation of public policy that better reflects Idahoans’ perspectives,” said McInelly. “Approval of the ballot initiative ensures elected policymakers would be more accountable to all Idahoans — not just a single group. There’s little question that better education policy will be the result.”
Bonds and Levies
IEA members also encourage voters to support any school bond or levy measures on their local ballot.
In all, 25 school districts are asking local voters to approve nearly $250 million in bond or levy measures – much of which will help districts pay for fundamental expenses related to the basic operations of their schools.
“Our members eagerly encourage voters to support all local bond or levy measures. Improving funding for schools, through any method, is critical,” McInelly said. “However, the fact that each election cycle includes local bond or levy measures worth hundreds of millions of dollars is proof that our state government is not doing enough to support public schools in Idaho.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT IDAHO’S CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
Legislative Endorsements
IEA members endorsed candidates in 22 competitive legislative races across Idaho.
The bi-partisan endorsements are the result of dozens of candidate interviews by IEA’s Political Action Committee for Education, or PACE. Each candidate listed earned their endorsement by representing the pro-public education perspective and values of IEA members.
“IEA members work hard to support and elect candidates who think public education is a public good,” said Peggy Hoy, who serves as a co-chair of IEA PACE along with McInelly. “Regardless of political party, these candidates represent the public education values of our members and deserve the vote of anyone who believes every Idaho student should have access to a free, quality public education.”
Lawmakers elected on Nov. 5 will convene in January during the Idaho Legislature’s 2025 regular session.
“By electing pro-education policymakers this November, Idahoans can do their part to protect and improve our public schools,” Hoy said.